Binder



E. M. PHILLIPS Jan. 17, 1950 BINDER Filed Dec. 17, 1945 I INVENTOR.fan/4v M 739/1 u 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIII 'IIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA-VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented Jan- 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE BINDER Edwin M. Phillips, East Orange, N. J. Application December17, 1945, Serial No. 635,503

.6 Claims. (Cl. 129-1) This invention relates to the binding of sheetsin a cover member in what is generally known as ring-binders. Moreparticularly, the invention deals with the construction of an economicalform of ring binder which can be applied to books or folders of variouskinds and classes for the support of perforated sheets therein. Stillmore particularly, the invention deals with a binder comprising a backor mounting stri with ring forming portions constituting an integralpart of one side edge portion of said strip and coupled with the otherside portion thereof in forming ring members disposed over said strip.The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are dis-- closedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a blank from which one form of binder isproduced, with parts of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing one part of the binder in apartially formed position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the completion of theformationof a ring on a binder.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing only a part of theconstruction and showing a modification.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the binder structure of Fig. 4,illustrating the same mounted upon a support, the section being takencentrally through the ring forming portion of the binder of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing another adaptation of myinvention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-4 of Fig. 6 omitting part ofthe construction; and

Fig. 8 is an inside face view of a binder mounted in a folder or bookwith parts of the construction broken away and in section, this viewbeing applicable to the structures shown in all of the other figures.

My invention contemplates the use of inexpensive sheet material forforming means to bind together a number of sheets and, while the binderelement, as a whole, may be used for this purpose, in most instances,the binder will be mounted in a folder or cover portion at the back orbound, portion thereof. Such materials as fibre, plastics or paper canbe used for the purposes stated and, in some instances, thin sheetmetals may be employed.

In Figs. 13 inclusive, I have shown one adaptavii) tion of my invention,wherein the binder includes an elongated back or mounting strip Ill,having spaced longitudinally of side edges thereof flange portions l I,at one side and other flange portions 12, at the opposite side. Theflange portions II have, adjacent the folds l3, elongated apertures- !4.The flanges l2 have, adjacent the folds l5, apertures 16. Extendingcentrally from the flanges i2 are ring'forming strips ll terminating attheir ends in projecting bevelled tongues 18 adapted to be inserted intothe apertures 16, as later described. The ring-forming strips, which maybe defined as ring members, have adjacent the free end portions thereofU-shaped cuts 19 forming spring lock elements 20. The ring members llalso have transverse folds or score lines 2| adjacent the elements 20.In the use of the binders, it is preferred that they be pro-formed tothe position shown in 'Fig. 2, wherein the flanges H and I2 extendupwardly at side edgesof the strip ID with the ring-forming strips I1free and unattached. In this position, the members ll may be freelypassed through apertures 22 formed in sheets 23 to be mounted in afolder or support 24, after the back strip ID has been secured to theback or binder portion of the folder, as by eyelets 25, or in any otherdesired manner. When all of the sheets have been arranged upon thering-forming members ll, the ends thereof are then passed inwardlythrough the apertures l4, then across the upper surface of the strip IDwith the tongues l8 projecting into the apertures i6 and, when in thisposition, the lock elements 26, which have yieldably passed through theapertures M, will spring upwardly, substantially into the position shownin Fig. 3, to engage the inner surface of the upstanding flanges l I,thus locking the ring members I! against displacement.

The tongues i8 form shoulder portions l8, which will abut or,substantially abut, inner surfaces of the flanges i2, maintaining thering members against twisting movement.

The flanges I l and 12 form strong supports for the ring members inconnection with the back or supporting strip In. It will be understoodthat two, three or more of the ring members may be arranged along abinder strip depending entirely upon the requirements. In referring tothe folder or support 24, references have been applied to Fig. 8 of thedrawing, but it will be ap parent that the other forms of binders, laterdescribed, would also have substantially the same appearance as theassemblage in Fig. 8.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, I have shown a modification, in which[0' represents the back 123, throughthe apertures 22 '34, formed atopposite sides of 3 strip of the binder, ll flange portions similar tothe flange portions II, and [2' similar to the flange portions l2, andI1 are ring-forming strips, similar to the strips l1, excepting that theelements 20 are not pre-flexed inwardly, in the manner shown in Fig. 2of the drawing. Instead, locking elements 26 are employed having atendency to maintain their normal straight position, so that tongue ends21 of theelements 26 are adapted tosnap-into small apertures 28 at thebase of the flanges l I and these flanges will have larger apertures 29outwardly of the apertures 28, through which the ring elements I? pass,as clearly seen in Fig. of the drawing. In other words, in forming theinwardlytensionedelements 20 in fibre and other materials, pre heatingof the materials may benecessaryztoraccomplish this result, whereas withthe structure of Figs. 4 and 5, the bending of the ring members andpassage of the same through the apertures :29 will simply causethelock'elements '26-to as- .sume their normalstraight positionand-snapinto the apertures 2.8, thus retaining the ring-members againstaccidental opening.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing, I have shown at 24' a shoulder or mounting, towhich the binder is attached in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8 of thedrawing. In Fig. 5' is also shown a few sheets over which one of theringmembers. I1 passes.

InFigs. 6 and 7 of the drawing, 1 have shown another adaptation of myinvention, wherein 30 represents abinderback; 3i and 32 represent flangeportions, similar in all respects to the flange portions II and I2; 33one of the ring members and this-ring member, instead of havingelements, such as the elements 20, 26, has a pair of outwardly flexedor'tensionedlock elements the members 33 and-flexed outwardly asufficient degree to require inward yielding in passing through theaperture;3.5 and, after clearing-the =aperture,'these elements flexoutwardly and engage-.the'inner surface of the flange 3|,1ocking thering member. against displacement. The *free end of each ring 'rnember.33 terminates in a projecting .tongue 36, operating in an aperture '31in the flange '32, similar to the aperture IS. The lock elements :34 areformed by substantially L- shaped cutouts '38 in the ring members, asillustrated-in Fig. "7. With the constructionshown in Figs. 1 3inclusive, thelock elements 'flex upwardly :for a locking engagement. InFigs. v4

and-'5, the lock elementsflex downwardly or are disposed downwardly withrespect to adjacent portions of the ring member, whereas in "Figs. 6:and "7, -'-the lock elements 3.4 flex :laterally intolockingengagement. In all cases, the lock elevments will be tensionallyforced through the apertures intheflanges and, while theseelements willprovide a moreor less closed ring binder, it is possible to make aloose-leaf structure of the ring elements by inserting abladeintoposition to :flex the lock elements 26, 26 to registering alinement withthe aperture through which it -may be drawn and, with the structure ofFigs.

6 and '7, a suitable tool can be-provi'ded todraw the pair of elements34 simultaneous-1y toward cach'other for this purpose.

'Havi-ng fully claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

described my invention, what I "having a "flat bottom with alined--raised flange -15 ,ring member and adapted to engage the inner surfaceof said apertured flange, the first named .rflange having an aperturetherein, and the free endportion ofsaid ring member having aprojectingtongug-adapted to enter the last named aperture when the ringmember is in locked position.

Abinder of the class described comprising an elongated mounting member,said member having a'flat bottom with alinedsraised flange -portions:atto the bottom 'at opposite sides thereof, one of the flanges'having anintegral 'rin'g forming member extending therefrom, the other of saidflanges being apertured to receive the free end portion of said memberin forming a ring member on said mounting between said flanges, the freeend portion of said member 'being adapted to seat flatly on the innersurface of said mounting between said flanges, and yieldable means onsaid-ring member inwardly of said free end portion andengaging the innersurface of said'apertured flange in retaining the ring member in ringformation on said mounting member.

3. A binderof'the class describedcomprising an elongatedmounting'member, said member having-a flat'bottom with alined raisedflange -portions at'90 to the'bottom at opposite sides thereof, one ofthe flanges -having an integral ring-forming member extending therefrom,the other of saidflanges'being apertured to receive the free end portionof-said member in forming a ring member on said mounting between saidflanges, the free end portion'of said member being adapted to seatflatly on the inner surface of said mounting between said flanges,yieldable 'means on said ring member'inwardly of said freeend-portionand engaging the inner surface of said apertured flange inretaining the ring member in ring formation on said mounting member, andsaid yieldable .means comprising'a lock element formed'fromthe materialof the ring memberandengagingthe inner surface of said'apertured flangeabove the aperture therein.

'4. A binder ofthe class described comprising an elongated mounting-member, said member 'having a flat bottom with alined raised flangeportions at 90 to "the bottom at opposite sides thereof, one of theflanges having an integral ring-forming member extending therefrom, theother of said flanges being apertured to receive the free end portion ofsaid member in forming a ring member on said mounting between saidflanges, the free end portion of said member being'adapted to seatflatly on the inner surface of said mounting between said flanges,yieldable means on said ring member'inwardly of said free end portionand engaging the inner surface of said apertured flange in retaining thering memberin ring formation on said mounting member, said yieldablemeans comprising a lock element formed from the material of the ringmember and engaging the inner surface of said apertured flange below the"aperture therein.

5. A binder of the class described comprising an elongated mountingmember, said member having a flat bottom with alined raised flangeportions at 90 to the bottom at opposite sides thereof, one of theflanges having an integral ring-forming member extending therefrom, theother of said flanges being apertured to receive the free end portion ofsaid member in forming a ring member on said mounting between saidflanges, the free end portion of said member being adapted to seatflatly on the inner surface of said mounting between said flanges,yieldable means on said ring member inwardly of said free end portionand engaging the inner surface of said apertured flange in retaining thering member in ring formation on said mounting member, said yieldablemeans comprising a, lock element formed from the material of the ringmember and engaging the inner surface of said apertured flange inalinement with the aperture therein.

6. A binder of the class described comprising an elongated mountingmember, said member having a flat bottom with alined raised flangeportions at 90 to the bottom at opposite sides thereof, one of theflanges having an integral ring-forming member extending therefrom, theother of said flanges being apertured to receive the free end portion ofsaid member in forming a ring member on said mounting between saidflanges, the free end portion of said member being adapted to seatflatly on the inner surface of REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,599,016 Johnson et a1. Sept.'7, 1926 2,014,973 Martling Sept. 17, 1935 2,123,625 Emmer July 12, 19372,131,276 Dessart Sept. 27, 1938 2,210,106 Tauber Aug. 6, 1940 2,329,786Ringler Sept. 21, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,602 GreatBritain Mar. 7, 1910

